Labor Day

Today is another wonderful American holiday. It has special meaning for a variety of reasons typical to our way of life in an open society. Children return to school tomorrow or the day after. Colleges restart the full academic year. The Jewish holidays are soon; autumn is right around the corner. Light is changing and the weather is cooling, at least at night.

But with all these markers, there is something about this day unique unto itself. The real meaning of holiday is holy day, so today we make holy and offer a tribute to labor. How do we best celebrate, make holy, labor? If you're like me, you have some work to do today, even if you don't go to the office (all schools and most businesses are closed), but that doesn't mean the business of home and family aren't right in front of you and me and in need of attention.

Suggestion: use today to focus a quiet and open attention to all your work. What does that mean? When you finish a task, stop, pause, inhale, exhale before you move on to the next task. Put a space between activities to remind yourself you're alive and active, but not "caught up". And then, notice the peace still left in you at the end of the day. That's my plan. I'll report back tomorrow.